Chapter Text
Prolog
How long have you been a werewolf?
Since I was born? But I'm not a werewolf, I am a familiar or shapeshifter. I can control when I want to shift.
How did you end up on earth?
Nine years ago, me and Cas opened a portal from our home planet Labria.
What happened? You and Castiel were what? 10 years old? Opening a travel portal is hard work, and it takes years of practice and precise mathematical solutions to do it.
I don't know how Cas managed to do it, but it saved our lives. Our planet was under attack from angels like you. They were trying to steal uranium from our main source.
However, Castiel is not a werewolf or a shapeshifter. Why are you able to control your wolf? In our lab, we have werewolves from Labria who have no control over themselves and are solely driven by wild animal instincts.
Actually, Cas is a witch. And why am I a familiar and not a werewolf? I cannot speak for other planets, but in Labria, you need to submit to the Conor or the tribe's leaders. All familiars are born werewolves, and when you reach your second summer, you go through a ritual where you submit and get accepted by the Conor. The Conor is a witch and a Familiar who are soulmates, either in a sexual or platonic way. They are chosen by Demeter, the god of nature. Both white witches and pups go through this ritual. When I say "white witches," I am not referring to race or skin color; it is just the name for innocent witches. The Conor can then read your future aura with the help of Demeter and decide if you fit into the pack. If you are not accepted by the Conor, you remain a werewolf or a powerless witch and are thrown out. The powerless witches often die early, while the werewolves often survive until Demeter lets nature take them. However, if you leave the pack, you lose your connection to the Conor and become wild and powerless.
How is it that you and Castiel still have control after nine years?
I don’t know. I have been thinking a lot about it, but I cannot give you a good explanation.
Hmm, I need to find out why. I do not believe in magic or gods like you describe. There must be a real answer. Please lie down on this bench. Do not transform into your wolf. I want to take some blood samples. I have heard rumors that you do not like needles very much, so I will give you a sedative, okay? Just close your eyes and relax. It will not hurt at all...
Chapter 1
Application for Permission to Research Intelligent Species
Name: Professor Chuck Shurley
Faculty: Other Life Forms, excluding Angels
Study: Werewolves from Labria
Desired Object: Werewolf with Control over Changing Forms
Habitat: Original Labria, but the object is a male from Earth
Purpose: Conduct further studies on werewolves, with a particular focus on individuals who possess the ability to control their transformation into wolf form and maintain their intellectual capacity while in that form
Sign: C. Shurley
Hollow University
From the Faculty of Biology
To Professor C. Shurley from Hollow University
Re: Application for permission to research intelligent species
We are pleased to inform you that your application has been approved, following the guidelines set forth in paragraph 469c. However, please note that this permission is contingent upon treating the subject matter in accordance with the established guidelines for studies on intelligent species.
Eric Kripke
Section Leader
"Now it's there again," Cas said and lifted his head to scan the area around them. He and Dean sat on a fallen tree trunk not far from the lake. They were in one of the most popular parks in town. However, where they were, the beach was too rocky and the slope too steep to attract anything but dog owners with overenthusiastic dogs and people who enjoy loneliness. Behind them was a colorful forest with different types of trees and bushes.
"What?" Dean asked. Castiel made a face. "It feels like someone is watching, and it drives me crazy! I know it's stupid because I can never see anyone, but it still feels like there's someone watching over us!" Dean made eye contact with him, and then he saw how serious Cas was. He jumped up fast and looked around. The forest was silent around them.
"I don't see anything." Castiel looked like he was going to collapse from fear on the spot. "Excuse me... but I don't feel good." He stared at the lake. "I know it's stupid because there's nothing there, but I can't shake off the feeling, and it's creepy."
Dean picked up a pebble. He was happy he wasn't Cas. Cas has always been on the more paranoid side. It was like he sometimes couldn't separate reality and fantasy or this world and Labria. But of course, Dean tried to be understanding - he didn't want to offend Cas in any way. It was only him and Cas against the world, they were chosen to be together and were the only ones who knew each other's secrets. That's why Dean was now staring at him, concerned and unsure of what to say to make him feel better.
Cas got visible chills and started fiddling with the end of his trench coat. "I just have a feeling we should be more careful." Dean frowned. Cas was clearly affected, and he was starting to get chills too. "How? What do you mean?"
"I don't know... But it feels like we are being watched from above!"
Automatic Dean looked up. The sky was blue and cloud-free. It was absolutely nothing to see, not even a bird or insect. “I know it's nothing to see up there,” Cas said Irritated. “There's never anything there! And that is what drives me crazy!”. “If it’s not invisible though,” mumbled Dean.
“I have had that thought,” Cas admitted. “No, now we’re going home before one of us jumps into the lake and drowns. Also, I need to find someone that can step in for Garth. He called in sick again, and that Nissan Frontier won’t fix itself”.
Cas was up in no time, and they moved quickly to get to more civilized areas. Four or five kids were playing on the beach by the lake, and two mothers were sitting on the grass sunbathing not far away. It was an incredibly nice May, with pleasant temperatures and weather. Low bushes covered the parking lot where Baby was standing. Suddenly, Cas stiffened and stopped.
In the next moment, two women were walking directly towards them. They seemed terribly out of place, wearing clothing from the 1960s. They had old-fashioned tweed skirts, strange coats, and ugly brown handbags. Both of them wore headscarves and pointy sunglasses. It struck Dean that they must be members of a religious cult or something like that.
Oh my god, they were staring! Had they never seen people before? Cas picked up the pace, avoided eye contact, and aimed at the opening on the left side of the redheaded lady. Dean followed closely, determined to walk by fast and get to the Impala.
Suddenly, the redhead took a step to the right and closed the space past them. "Good afternoon!" she said, smiling. Cas continued to stare at the ground and looked like he wanted to disappear into thin air. "Attractive weather, don't you think?" said the shorter brunette woman while she tapped desperately on her phone. It was a weird contrast to see a hypermodern phone in the hands of a lady who looked like she was taken straight out of a black and white movie. Dean gave them a cold look and straightened his back to appear taller and more intimidating. He was not about to start a conversation with questionable cult members in the empty parking lot.
Cas clenched his fists to stop them from shaking. The ladies seemed pleased to have managed to stop them because the redhead was looking them up and down, smiling. "Can we ask you two about something?"
"We don't want to buy anything," Dean answered quickly. In the same moment, the brunettes' phone made a weird beep sound. Cas squirmed and bumped into Dean, who was standing behind him. "Dean..." he started and grabbed Dean's arm.
"No, no, we just want to ask you..." "No thank you, please leave us alone," Dean snapped. Cas took the cue and started dragging Dean towards the car. He basically pushed the redhead away and sprinted.
"Calm down, Cas! We don't push people, even though they were creepy, and especially not women! We both have a rap sheet, and we don't need harassment printed in big letters!"
Cas outright ignored him. "Didn't you see them!?"
"Yes, I did, but fuck, it was just some lost cult members. What if they call the police?!"
"Call the police? You care about that?! Didn't you hear the way they talked?"
Dean twirled the car keys on his finger as he walked around to the driver's seat. "A bit old-fashioned, perhaps?" Cas snorted.
"And you completely freaked out, though!" he pointed out.
"Better that," Cas claimed.
"Better than what?" Cas shrugged, not wanting to meet his gaze. "The alternative, I think."
Unfortunately, Dean's curiosity got the best of him, and he asked, "What alternative? Do you think they have guns under their coats and want to kidnap us? Or do you think they can hypnotize us, so we can become members of their cult against our will?"
"Oh my god, shut the fuck up, jerk," Cas mumbled angrily. Without saying anything more, Dean started the car and drove out of the parking lot. Cas kept looking out the window, clearly upset from the two ladies. Dean bit his lip. He felt like it was his responsibility to protect Cas and get him back on Earth. He was considering his choice of words, so he wouldn't offend Cas. He wasn't always so lucky when it came to this part of their relationship. Words were not his thing at all.
As Dean took a deep breath, Cas started to speak. "Do you think some creatures can change forms into people? You know, change into a human 'meatsuit' to look like us?" Dean was shocked. "What?"
Cas looked scared and picked up his legs from the floor, curling into a ball in the passenger seat, tucking his trench coat around himself. "Those two ladies," he continued, "I have this nasty feeling that they were not humans."
Guidelines for Studies on Intelligent Species
Paragraph 1 – Gathering of Test Subjects
Any experimental object belonging to an intelligent species is meticulously selected and treated with utmost respect as an individual. It is crucial to adhere to these guidelines to the best of one's abilities:
a) Consent: Prior consent must be obtained from an intelligent being before collecting and conducting research. This consent can be obtained through a signed contract in the species' native language, an orally given consent (which must be recorded and signed), or any culturally accepted means of agreement acknowledged by the individual.
b) Transportation: When transporting intelligent beings, utmost care must be taken to ensure their well-being. They should be handled with gentleness and provided with access to food, beverages, their own designated resting area, and the opportunity to retreat when necessary.
c) Use of Coercion: The use of coercion should be minimized as much as possible. It is strictly prohibited to subject intelligent species to cages, straps, or chains. In situations where an individual resists despite providing consent, sedative injections may be employed. Alternatively, the individual can be confined to their own rooms, ensuring their safety and comfort.
These guidelines solely pertain to the collection process. Please refer to section 2 for further guidance on the treatment of the individual during the research phase.